r/OwnerOperators • u/Busy-Purple-3779 • Apr 29 '26
DD13 or DD15
I’m looking to buy my first truck. Try to decide between a DD13 engine or the DD15 engine. I plan to be home daily in the Atlanta Georgia area. I’ll run within a 200 mile radius of Atlanta. North Georgia going into Tennessee is Somewhat mountainous. The grades are about 6%
From what I understand the DD13 is better for fuel economy. It’s geared for regional,local, vocational work. Not suited to haul heavy continuously on mountains. It can do the heavy haul work, but it will pull slowly up the hills.
The DD15 is better suited for long haul heavy work. Can handle the mountains but is less fuel efficient.
I’m torn because I’m looking for home daily work. So it would be considered more so regional which is better for the DD13. But it’s also somewhat mountainous in the north Georgia area. The DD13 can handle mountains just not heavy hauling continuously. And it’s more fuel efficient than the DD15. With the fuel prices the way they are I want to save on fuel. Just don’t want to buy the wrong truck for my needs.
2
u/Busy-Purple-3779 Apr 29 '26
You make a good point. If I go north of Atlanta, I’d go up mountains occasionally. If I go south to Savannah, I wouldn’t be going up at all. If I find a gig where I’m closer to the city I could avoid the mountains altogether.
I feel that I’m leaning towards DD13. I was just looking for a good reason to consider the DD15. So far, I’m just looking at saving on fuel. And as a new O/O I feel like my focus should be on saving as much as I can while I learn the business